# NTSB MIA98LA028: Cessna 182A, N5883B, Parkton, NC, November 9, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 9, 1997, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Parkton, NC - Coordinates: 34.899829, -79.010093 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8998&lon=-79.0101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38429/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA028 ## Probable cause improper installation of an auto battery cable which led to an in-flight fire due to the chaffed cable. ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 50 feet above the ground after takeoff he began to smell smoke and then saw smoke in the cockpit. He elected to abort the takeoff and land on the runway. He said the airplane bounced once and then landed. After touchdown he steered straight with both brakes full on. When it became apparent that he could not stop before the trees at the end of the runway, he began a hard turn to right. The left main landing gear failed, the left wing hit the ground and the aircraft came to a stop. Examination of the wreckage revealed that a chafed auto battery cable, aft of the firewall, caused the soundproofing on the firewall to catch fire. ## Factual narrative On November 9, 1997, about 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182A, N5883B, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, local parachute jump flight, aborted the takeoff and ground looped at Southern Comfort Airport, Parkton, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airline transport pilot and four passengers were not injured. The flight was originating at the time. The pilot reported that the airplane had taken off, and had reached an altitude of about 50 feet above the ground when he "began to smell smoke, and then saw smoke in the cockpit." The pilot elected to abort the takeoff, and land on the runway. He said the airplane "bounced once and then landed." After touchdown he steered "straight with both brakes full on." When it "became apparent that I could not stop before the trees at the end of the runway, I began a hard turn to right...just as I began to straighten out, the left main landing gear failed...the left wing hit the ground and the aircraft came to a stop." Examination of the wreckage by the FAA revealed that a chafed auto battery cable, aft of the fire wall, caused the sound proofing on the fire wall to catch fire, resulting in smoke entering the cabin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, takeoff - initial climb - electrical system,electric wiring - inadequate (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fuselage,firewall - fire - Main gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5883B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5883B-2013-04-23), registration cancelled 2013-04-23, S/N 33883, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33883 - Airframe hours: 4720 - Engines: Continental O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Ralph E. Rigby - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 1997, 92 hours before - Departed: 35W - Airport: 35W, Southern Comfort, runway 19, 4,000 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,237 total, 438 in this make and model, 3,081 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19971109032669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971109032669A), Nov 9, 1997: Cessna 182A, Parkton, NC, Substantial damage. Aborted takeoff. Ground looped. Smoke in cokpit. Gear failed wing hit ground. Battery cable shorted at firewall. (-23) the aircraft began takeoff at 1350 from… ## Other investigations on N5883B (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA01LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA059), Jan 7, 2001: Cessna 182A (N5883B), Parkton, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power during a normal descent due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.